Semiconductor device, manufacturing apparatus for semiconductor device and manufacturing method for semiconductor device, and semiconductor module

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor element; a frame which has a first surface, holds the semiconductor element on the first surface, and is electrically connected with the semiconductor element; and a seal which has electrical insulation properties and seals the semiconductor element and the frame, wherein a through-hole is formed in the seal, the through-hole has a hole axis which extends in a direction intersecting with the first surface, and an inner peripheral end surface of the seal exposed inside the through-hole is inclined with respect to the hole axis.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, a manufacturingapparatus for the semiconductor device and a manufacturing method forthe semiconductor device, and a semiconductor module. In particular, thepresent invention relates to a fully-molded type semiconductor device inwhich a power semiconductor element is covered with a seal around theentire periphery thereof and is electrically insulated from the outside,a manufacturing apparatus for the semiconductor device and amanufacturing method for the semiconductor device, and a semiconductormodule.

Description of the Background Art

A semiconductor device capable of handling large electric power isgenerally called a power device. Such a semiconductor device is requiredto have a high dielectric strength in order to handle large electricpower.

In a fully-molded type semiconductor device, the entire periphery of apower semiconductor element is covered with a seal having electricalinsulation properties in order to achieve a high dielectric strength.

Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 2003-289085 describes a fully-moldedtype semiconductor device secured and fixed to a heat-dissipating finusing screws, and provided with mounting holes in a sealing resin.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

However, in a conventional fully-molded type semiconductor device, therehave been cases where a sufficient dielectric strength cannot beobtained.

Generally, a semiconductor device is connected and fixed to a heatdissipator using screws or the like, at the outside thereof. On thatoccasion, the semiconductor device cannot obtain a sufficient dielectricstrength when a lead electrically connected with a power semiconductorelement and a die pad equipped with the power semiconductor element areclose to the heat dissipator and the screws or the like.

The present invention has been made to solve the aforementioned problem.A main object of the present invention is to provide a semiconductordevice having a high dielectric strength, a manufacturing apparatus forthe semiconductor device and a manufacturing method for thesemiconductor device, and a semiconductor module.

A semiconductor device in accordance with the present invention is asemiconductor device including: a semiconductor element; a frame whichhas a first surface and a second surface located opposite to the firstsurface, holds the semiconductor element on the first surface, and iselectrically connected with the semiconductor element; and a seal whichhas electrical insulation properties and seals the semiconductor elementand the frame. A through-hole is formed in the seal, the through-holehas a hole axis which extends in a direction intersecting with the firstsurface, and an inner peripheral end surface of the seal exposed insidethe through-hole is inclined with respect to the hole axis.

According to the present invention, a semiconductor device having a highdielectric strength, a manufacturing apparatus for the semiconductordevice and a manufacturing method for the semiconductor device, and asemiconductor module can be provided.

The foregoing and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of thepresent invention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the present invention when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view for illustrating a semiconductor devicein accordance with Embodiment 1.

FIG. 2 is a top view for illustrating the semiconductor device inaccordance with Embodiment 1.

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view for illustrating a semiconductor devicein accordance with Embodiment 2.

FIG. 4 is a top view for illustrating a semiconductor device inaccordance with Embodiment 3.

FIG. 5 is a view for illustrating an internal structure of thesemiconductor device in a region V shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view for illustrating a semiconductor devicein accordance with Embodiment 4.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view for illustrating a semiconductor devicein accordance with Embodiment 5.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram for illustrating a manufacturing apparatus forthe semiconductor device in accordance with Embodiment 5.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view for illustrating the manufacturingapparatus for the semiconductor device in accordance with Embodiment 5.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart for illustrating a manufacturing method for thesemiconductor device in accordance with Embodiment 5.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view for illustrating a variation of themanufacturing apparatus for the semiconductor device in accordance withEmbodiment 5.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described withreference to the drawings. It is noted that identical or correspondingparts in the drawings will be designated by the same reference numerals,and the description thereof will not be repeated.

Embodiment 1

A semiconductor device in accordance with Embodiment 1 will be describedwith reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. A semiconductor device 100 inaccordance with Embodiment 1 includes a semiconductor element 1, a frame2, and a seal 3.

Semiconductor element 1 can be any power semiconductor element, and is,for example, an insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) or a MOS fieldeffect transistor (MOSFET). In semiconductor device 100, a plurality ofsemiconductor elements 1 may be formed.

Frame 2 has a first surface 2A and a second surface 2B located oppositeto first surface 2A, holds semiconductor element 1 on first surface 2A,and is electrically connected with semiconductor element 1. Frame 2extends to the outside of seal 3 described later, and plays a role toelectrically connect semiconductor element 1 and the outside.Semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1 may include aplurality of frames 2. Frame 2 has connection portions 7 (see FIG. 2)exposed from seal 3, and end portions 2E (see FIG. 1) covered with seal3. The material constituting frame 2 can be any material havingelectrical conductivity, and is, for example, a material containingcopper (Cu). It s noted that frame 2 may have a die pad 5 (see FIG. 7)holding semiconductor element 1, and a frame body portion 6 (see FIG. 7)connected with die pad 5. Connection portions 7 may be provided to bebent in a direction perpendicular to first surface 2A, or may beprovided to extend in the same plane as first surface 2A.

Seal 3 has electrical insulation properties. Seal 3 covers semiconductorelement 1 and at least a portion of frame 2, and thereby physically andchemically protects them. As the material constituting seal 3, anymaterial having electrical insulation properties and having flowabilityunder predetermined conditions can be adopted, and is, for example,epoxy resin. Seal 3 can be formed, for example, by the transfer moldmethod.

An outer peripheral surface of seal 3 has an upper surface 3A locatedabove semiconductor element 1 and frame 2, a lower surface 3B locatedbelow semiconductor element 1 and frame 2, and side end surfaces 3Cconnecting upper surface 3A and lower surface 3B. Upper surface 3A andlower surface 3B are formed to extend along first surface 2A of frame 2,and preferably formed to be parallel to first surface 2A. Through-holes4 penetrating from upper surface 3A to lower surface 3B are formed inseal 3. That is, a hole axis of each through-hole 4 extends in adirection intersecting with first surface 2A. Preferably, the hole axisof through-hole 4 is provided perpendicular to first surface 2A. It isnoted that a hole axis means an axis which passes through the center ofthrough-hole 4 and extends along through-hole 4.

Through-hole 4 may have any shape, and has, for example, a shape formedby partially filling a through-hole having a predetermined shape, withseal 3. For example, through-hole 4 has a semicircular shape formed byfilling half of a region inside a common through-hole formed in aconventional power semiconductor device, which has the shape of a circlewith a hole diameter H2 (a radius H1), with seal 3. In this case, aplanar shape of through-hole 4 has one side having a length equal tohole diameter H2, and a semicircular arc with radius H1.

In through-hole 4, the one side having a length equal to hole diameterH2 may be formed at a position closest to frame 2. From a differentviewpoint, through-hole 4 in semiconductor device 100 in accordance withEmbodiment 1 may be formed at the same position as a portion (forexample, half) of the common through-hole formed in the conventionalpower semiconductor device, and may have a shape formed by filling aportion thereof on a side close to frame 2 (i.e., a portion of an innerperipheral end surface of the through-hole which includes a regionhaving the shortest distance from frame 2), with seal 3.

Hole diameter H2 of through-hole 4 can be arbitrarily determined,irrespective of the diameter of a shaft of a fixing member 12 (forexample, an effective diameter of a screw). Hole diameter H2 ofthrough-hole 4 may be the same as the diameter of the shaft of fixingmember 12, or may be shorter than that.

Through-hole 4 is formed in a region not overlapping with frame 2. Onthis occasion, an inner peripheral end surface 4E of seal 3 exposedinside through-hole 4 and end portion 2E of frame 2 are apart from eachother by a predetermined distance.

A pressing member 13 which presses upper surface 3A of seal 3 from aboveis fixed, by fixing members 12, to a heat dissipator 11 on which lowersurface 3B of seal 3 is placed in contact therewith, and therebysemiconductor device 100 constitutes a semiconductor module 500. In heatdissipator 11, holes to which fixing members 12 can be fixed are formedat positions corresponding to through-holes 4. Fixing member 12 may bemade of a material having electrical conductivity, and may be, forexample, a screw made of a steel material. The holes in heat dissipator11 are screw holes provided to be capable of securing fixing members 12therein. In pressing member 13, holes through which fixing members 12can pass are formed at positions corresponding to through-holes 4.Pressing member 13 is, for example, a plate spring.

In semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1, fixingmembers 12 are connected and fixed to heat dissipator 11, and providedto connect pressing member 13 at the outside of semiconductor device100. Through-hole 4 is not a hole for allowing fixing member 12 to passtherethrough. Thus, radius H1 of through-hole 4 can be arbitrarilydetermined, irrespective of the effective diameter of fixing member 12or the like, as described above.

Each through-hole 4 is provided at a position overlapping with pressingmember 13 when pressing member 13 is fixed to heat dissipator 11 byfixing members 12 and thereby semiconductor device 100 is sandwichedbetween heat dissipator 11 and pressing member 13. Hole diameter H2 ofthrough-hole 4 can be set, for example, to be approximately equal to thewidth of pressing member 13 (width in a short direction).

Next, a manufacturing method for semiconductor device 100 in accordancewith Embodiment 1 will be described. The manufacturing method forsemiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1 can be anymethod as long as through-holes 4 can be formed in seal 3, and is, forexample, the transfer mold method which supplies a thermosetting resininto a mold, as a flowable material which is to serve as seal 3.

First, a material to be sealed 8, which includes semiconductor element 1and frame 2 holding semiconductor element 1 on a surface thereof, isprepared. In material to be sealed 8, semiconductor element 1 and frame2 are electrically connected. Next, a mold is prepared. The mold has aspace surrounded by an inner peripheral surface corresponding to theouter peripheral surface of seal 3 (upper surface 3A, lower surface 3B,side end surfaces 3C) and structures corresponding to inner peripheralend surfaces 4E of through-holes 4, and is provided to be capable ofholding material to be sealed 8 inside the space. It is noted that themold has a connection path which connects the space and the outside ofthe mold.

Next, a material having flowability which is to serve as the seal(hereinafter referred to as a flowable material) is supplied into themold. The flowable material is, for example, epoxy resin. The flowablematerial fills the space inside the mold in which material to be sealed8 is held, through the connection path provided in the mold. Filling ofthe flowable material is performed until there is no cavity inside themold.

Next, the flowable material is heated and cured. Thereby, semiconductordevice 100 in which material to be sealed 8 is covered with seal 3 andthrough-holes 4 are formed in seal 3 can be obtained.

Next, the function and effect of semiconductor device 100 in accordancewith Embodiment 1 will be described. Semiconductor device 100 includessemiconductor element 1; frame 2 which has first surface 2A, holdssemiconductor element 1 on first surface 2A, and is electricallyconnected with semiconductor element 1; and seal 3 which has electricalinsulation properties and seals semiconductor element 1 and frame 2.Through-holes 4 are formed in seal 3, each through-hole 4 has a holeaxis which extends in the direction intersecting with first surface 2A,and inner peripheral end surface 4E of seal 3 exposed insidethrough-hole 4 is inclined with respect to the hole axis.

Further, through-hole 4 is not a hole through which fixing member 12,which fixes semiconductor element 1 to heat dissipator 11, is insertedand secured, and fixing member 12 is provided outside seal 3 forsemiconductor element 1. Thus, the distance between end portion 2E offrame 2 and fixing member 12 can be increased. Thereby, the dielectricstrength of semiconductor element 1 can be improved, when compared witha conventional power semiconductor element using through-hole 4 formedin seal 3 as an insertion hole for fixing member 12.

Further, when inner peripheral end surface 4E of through-hole 4 is asurface which has one side having a length equal to radius H1, and innerperipheral end surface 4E is exposed inside through-hole 4 to face aside opposite to frame 2, a shortest distance L1 between end portion 2Eof frame 2 and inner peripheral end surface 4E of through-hole 4 can beincreased.

It is noted that each through-hole 4 is provided at the positionoverlapping with pressing member 13 when pressing member 13 is fixed toheat dissipator 11 by fixing members 12 and thereby semiconductor device100 is sandwiched between heat dissipator 11 and pressing member 13.Thus, through-holes 4 can serve as guides used when semiconductor device100 is positioned with respect to pressing member 13 connected to heatdissipator 11 by fixing members 12. In particular, when hole diameter H2of through-hole 4 is set to be approximately equal to the width ofpressing member 13 (width in the short direction), positioning can beperformed more easily at the time of assembly, by designingsemiconductor module 500 such that, when semiconductor module 500 isviewed in a top view, through-holes 4 are not exposed at all from underpressing member 13. It is noted that through-hole 4 may be formed toextend from upper surface 3A toward lower surface 3B by a predetermineddistance, and may not penetrate to lower surface 3B. In other words,through-hole 4 may be formed as a concave portion in upper surface 3A.In this case, through-hole 4 as a concave portion has a bottom surfacemade of seal 3, and preferably the distance between upper surface 3A andthe bottom surface is provided to be shorter than the distance betweenframe 2 and upper surface 3A in semiconductor device 100. Also with sucha configuration, semiconductor device 100 having a high dielectricstrength and allowing easy positioning when semiconductor module 500 isassembled can be obtained.

Embodiment 2

Next, semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 2 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 3. Although semiconductor device 100 inaccordance with Embodiment 2 basically has the same configuration asthat of semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1,semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 2 is differentfrom semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1 in thatthrough-hole 4 is a hole for allowing fixing member 12 to passtherethrough, and inner peripheral end surface 4E of seal 3 exposedinside through-hole 4 is inclined with respect to the hole axis ofthrough-hole 4.

The hole axis of through-hole 4 only has to extend in the directionintersecting with first surface 2A of frame 2 at any angle, and forexample, is formed such that first surface 2A of frame 2 is parallel toupper surface 3A and lower surface 3B of seal 3, and the hole axisextends in a direction perpendicular to these surfaces.

Inner peripheral end surface 4E of through-hole 4 is not perpendicular,but is inclined at a predetermined angle, with respect to upper surface3A which is not in contact with heat dissipator 11 in seal 3 and lowersurface 3B which is in contact with heat dissipator 11 in seal 3.Preferably, inner peripheral end surface 4E is provided to intersectwith upper surface 3A at an obtuse angle and intersect with lowersurface 3B at an acute angle. From a different viewpoint, it ispreferable that inner peripheral end surface 4E is provided such that anopening area of through-hole 4 in upper surface 3A is larger than anopening area of through-hole 4 in lower surface 3B. It is noted thatdimensions of through-hole 4 in lower surface 3B are provided to be morethan or equal to dimensions of the shaft of fixing member 12.

With such a configuration, even if the opening area of through-hole 4 inupper surface 3A is provided to be equal to that of the through-hole forallowing a fixing member to pass therethrough provided in theconventional power semiconductor device, shortest distance L1 betweenend portion 2E of frame 2 and inner peripheral end surface 4E can beincreased, when compared with the conventional power semiconductordevice formed such that inner peripheral end surface 4E of through-hole4 extends in the direction perpendicular to upper surface 3A and lowersurface 3B. As a result, even when fixing member 12 passes throughthrough-hole 4, seal 3 provided between end portion 2E of frame 2 andfixing member 12 can be formed thicker, while the distance therebetweenis equal to that of the conventional power semiconductor device.Therefore, the dielectric strength of semiconductor device 100 can beimproved.

Preferably, frame 2 is provided within a half region of semiconductordevice 100 located on a lower side in a vertical direction. Thereby,shortest distance L1 between end portion 2E of frame 2 and innerperipheral end surface 4E of through-hole 4 can be further increased,and the dielectric strength of semiconductor device 100 can be improved.

Fixing member 12 may be entirely accommodated inside through-hole 4including a head thereof, or the head may protrude outside through-hole4. Further, for example, the shaft of fixing member 12 may be formed toextend along inner peripheral end surface 4E of through-hole 4.

It is noted that, since semiconductor device 100 in accordance withEmbodiment 2 is connected and fixed to heat dissipator 11 by fixingmembers 12 inserted into through-holes 4, pressing member 13 can beeliminated.

Embodiment 3

Next, semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 3 will bedescribed with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. Although semiconductor device100 in accordance with Embodiment 3 basically has the same configurationas that of semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 2,semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 3 is differentfrom semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 2 in that aflow control pattern 20, which restricts a flow direction of theflowable material which is to serve as seal 3 when seal 3 is formed, isformed on first surface 2A of frame 2 adjacent to through-hole 4.

A plurality of flow control patterns 20 are provided on first surface 2Aof frame 2. Flow control patterns 20 are provided independently fromeach other at predetermined intervals. Each flow control pattern 20 isprovided to protrude from first surface 2A of frame 2 in the directionperpendicular to first surface 2A, and provided to extend toward endportion 2E of frame 2 located close to through-hole 4. It is noted thatflow control pattern 20 can have any shape as long as it can restrictthe flow direction of the flowable material.

With such a configuration, the flow direction of the flowable materialis restricted by flow control patterns 20 when the flowable materialwhich is to serve as seal 3 is supplied into the space inside the moldin which material to be sealed 8 including semiconductor element 1 andframe 2 is held. On this occasion, the flowable material flows insidethe mold by being guided by flow control patterns 20 formed to extendtoward end portion 2E of frame 2 located close to a region in whichthrough-hole 4 is formed. As a result, even if shortest distance L1between end portion 2E of frame 2 and inner peripheral end surface 4E ofthrough-hole 4 is increased when compared with that of the conventionalsemiconductor device and thereby the distance for which the flowablematerial which is to serve as seal 3 flows along frame 2 is decreased, aresultant change in the flow direction of the flowable material can besuppressed. In other words, since flow control patterns 20 formed onframe 2 can play a role to control the flow direction of the flowablematerial which is to serve as the seal in a resin sealing step, whichhas been played by the frame in the conventional semiconductor device,flow control patterns 20 allow the flowable material to flow efficientlyaround through-hole 4 even if frame 2 itself has a shorter length.Thereby, semiconductor device 100 has a high dielectric strength, andformability of through-hole 4 can be improved.

Any shape can be adopted as a planar shape of frame 2 in first surface2A. For example, frame 2 may be provided such that, when semiconductordevice 100 is viewed from the upper surface 3A side, frame 2 has endportion 2E including two sides which face through-hole 4 provided in acircular shape, and the two sides are orthogonal to each other.

In this case, when shortest distance L1 between end portion 2E of frame2 and inner peripheral end surface 4E of through-hole 4 is longer thanthat of the conventional semiconductor device as described above, thedistance between frame 2 and fixing member 12 also becomes more than orequal to shortest distance L1 in a case where fixing member 12 isinserted into through-hole 4 and secured to heat dissipator 11 or thelike to fix semiconductor element 1. Thus, semiconductor device 100 canhave a high dielectric strength. Further, in most of the region in whichend portion 2E of frame 2 and inner peripheral end surface 4E ofthrough-hole 4 face each other with seal 3 interposed therebetween, thedistance therebetween is set to be longer than shortest distance L1, andthus the risk of breakdown can be further reduced.

It is noted that flow control patterns 20 only have to be formed on atleast one of first surface 2A and second side 2B of frame 2. Inaddition, when frame 2 has die pad 5 (see FIG. 7) and frame body portion6, flow control patterns 20 only have to be formed on at least one ofdie pad 5 and frame body portion 6 close to through-hole 4, and further,flow control patterns 20 only have to be formed on a surface of at leastone of them.

Embodiment 4

Next, semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 4 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 6. Although semiconductor device 100 inaccordance with Embodiment 4 basically has the same configuration asthat of semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 2,semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 4 is differentfrom semiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 2 in thatend portion 2E of frame 2 arranged to face inner peripheral end surface4E of seal 3 exposed inside through-hole 4 is bent in the directionintersecting with first surface 2A.

Frame 2 has a structure in which a plate-like conductive member is bentupward or downward at a point apart from end portion 2E by apredetermined distance (hereinafter referred to as a bending point). Theconductive member constituting frame 2, in a state where it is not bent,may have a configuration equal to that of the frame in the conventionalsemiconductor device, and specifically may have equal dimensions. Alsowith such a configuration, the shortest distance from the bending pointto a point where end portion 2E is located in frame 2 when frame 2 isviewed in a plan view corresponds to the length of the base of atriangle whose hypotenuse is a bent portion located from the bendingpoint to end portion 2E in frame 2, and thus the shortest distance isshorter than the length from the bending point to end portion 2E, thatis, the shortest distance in the conventional frame which is not bent.Accordingly, even in a case where fixing members 12 are provided inthrough-holes 4 to fix semiconductor device 100 to heat dissipator 11 orthe like using through-holes 4 and fixing members 12 having dimensionsequal to those of the conventional semiconductor device, the shortestdistance between frame 2 and fixing member 12 can be increased, and thedielectric strength of semiconductor device 100 can be improved.

It is noted that the bent portion of frame 2 can have any shape, and forexample, may be bent downward or bent perpendicular to first surface 2A.Also with such a configuration, end portion 2E of frame 2 can be locatedsufficiently apart from fixing member 12 arranged inside through-hole 4,when compared with the conventional semiconductor device. As a result,dielectric strength can be improved without any change in the dimensionsor the like of the conventional semiconductor device.

Although semiconductor module 500 is fixed to heat dissipator 11 byfixing members 12 only, without using pressing member 13, insemiconductor device 100 in accordance with each of Embodiments 2 to 4described above, semiconductor module 500 is not limited thereto.Semiconductor device 100 in accordance with each embodiment may beconfigured as semiconductor module 500 using pressing member 13, as withsemiconductor device 100 in accordance with Embodiment 1.

Embodiment 5

Next, a semiconductor device 200 in accordance with Embodiment 5 will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 7. Semiconductor device 200 inaccordance with Embodiment 5 includes semiconductor element 1, frame 2,and seal 3 which seals semiconductor element 1 and frame 2. Frame 2includes die pad 5 holding at least one semiconductor element 1 on asurface thereof and frame body portion 6 connected with die pad 5, andis electrically connected with semiconductor element 1.

In semiconductor device 200, die pad 5 is located below frame bodyportion 6 in the vertical direction, and is connected with frame bodyportion 6. Die pad 5 has a first end portion 51 located on a side closeto a connection portion connected with frame body portion 6, and asecond end portion 52 located opposite to first end portion 51.

Die pad 5 may not be provided in parallel with frame body portion 6 orlower surface 3B of seal 3. That is, in a direction perpendicular toframe body portion 6, second end portion 52 may be located on a sidecloser to frame body portion 6 or on a side more apart from frame bodyportion 6, than first end portion 51. On this occasion, frame 2 isprovided such that second end portion 52 of die pad 5 has apredetermined positional relationship with respect to first end portion51 in the direction perpendicular to frame body portion 6.

Specifically, second end portion 52 may be provided to be closer toframe body portion 6 than first end portion 51, in the directionperpendicular to frame body portion 6, with 50 μm set as an upper limitvalue. Further, second end portion 52 may be provided to be more apartfrom frame body portion 6 than first end portion 51, in a directionapart from frame body portion 6, with 100 μm set as an upper limitvalue. In other words, when the point where first end portion 51 islocated is defined as a zero point and the side more apart from framebody portion 6 is defined as a positive side in the directionperpendicular to frame body portion 6 (i.e., the vertical direction whensemiconductor device 200 is assembled), second end portion 52 isprovided within a range of more than or equal to −50 μm and less than orequal to 100 μm (range t3 in FIG. 7).

Semiconductor device 200 in accordance with Embodiment 5 is configuredsuch that frame body portion 6 in such frame 2 is substantially parallelto lower surface 3B of seal 3. On this occasion, the shortest distancebetween second end portion 52 of die pad 5 and the outer peripheralsurface of seal 3 is a shortest distance t2 between second end portion52 and lower surface 3B, and is more than or equal to a lower limitdistance which is 100 μm shorter than a shortest distance t1 betweenfirst end portion 51 and the outer peripheral surface (lower surface 3B)of seal 3, and is less than or equal to an upper limit distance which is50 μm longer than shortest distance t1 between first end portion 51 andthe outer peripheral surface (lower surface 3B) of seal 3.

The shortest distance between first end portion 51 of die pad 5 and theouter peripheral surface of seal 3 is shortest distance t1 between firstend portion 51 and lower surface 3B. Shortest distance t1 between firstend portion 51 and lower surface 3B can be set to the same value as thatof the conventional semiconductor device, and is, for example, more thanor equal to 500 μm. When shortest distance t1 between first end portion51 and lower surface 3B is set to 500 μm, shortest distance t2 betweensecond end portion 52 and lower surface 3B can be set to more than orequal to 400 μm and less than or equal to 550 μm.

That is, semiconductor device 200 in accordance with Embodiment 5includes frame 2 provided such that first end portion 51 and second endportion 52 of die pad 5 have the relative distance relationshipdescribed above.

Here, in the frame used for the conventional semiconductor device, thesecond end portion of the die pad is not provided to be closer to theframe body portion than the first end portion, in the directionperpendicular to the frame body portion. That is, the second end portionof the die pad in the conventional frame has been provided to be apartfrom the frame body portion in the direction perpendicular to the framebody portion, with 0 μm set as a lower limit value (which means that thesecond end portion is at the same level as the first end portion), andto be more apart from the frame body portion than the first end portion,in the direction apart from the frame body portion, with for example 150μm set as an upper limit value. In this case, it has been difficult toimprove dielectric strength by increasing the shortest distance betweenthe second end portion and the lower surface of the seal withoutincreasing the thickness of the seal.

In contrast, in frame 2 used for semiconductor device 200, since firstend portion 51 and second end portion 52 of die pad 5 have therelationship described above, shortest distance t2 between second endportion 52 and lower surface 3B of seal 3 can be increased withoutincreasing the thickness of seal 3. As a result, the package insulationfailure rate of semiconductor device 200 can be reduced.

Next, a manufacturing apparatus 300 for the semiconductor device inaccordance with Embodiment 5 (hereinafter simply referred to as amanufacturing apparatus) will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and9. Manufacturing apparatus 300 is used to manufacture semiconductordevice 200 in accordance with Embodiment 5. Specifically, manufacturingapparatus 300 is a manufacturing apparatus used when seal 3 is formed tocover material to be sealed 8 including semiconductor element 1 andframe 2. Manufacturing apparatus 300 includes a mold 21, a supply unit30 for supplying the flowable material which is to serve as seal 3, anda control unit 40 which controls mold 21 and supply unit 30.

Inside mold 21, a space S for arranging material to be sealed 8 thereinand a connection path 22 for connecting space S and the outside areformed. On this occasion, mold 21 can hold, in space S, material to besealed 8 in which die pad 5 is located on an upper side in the verticaldirection than frame body portion 6. On this occasion, referring to FIG.9, connection path 22 may be provided to extend along an extendingdirection of frame 2 for example when material to be sealed 8 isarranged in mold 21. Connection path 22 shown in FIG. 9 is formed toextend in a horizontal direction. Mold 21 is formed of, for example, anupper mold and a lower mold, and space S is a region surrounded by anend surface 21A of the upper mold and an end surface 21B of the lowermold.

Supply unit 30 supplies the flowable material which is to serve as seal3 into space S, through connection path 22 of mold 21. Control unit 40controls mold 21 and supply unit 30. Specifically, control unit 40controls, for example, heating conditions and pressurization conditionsfor mold 21, and the supply amount of the flowable material which is toserve as the seal.

Next, a manufacturing method for the semiconductor device in accordancewith Embodiment 5 will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 to 10. Themanufacturing method for the semiconductor device in accordance withEmbodiment 5 is a manufacturing method for the semiconductor device inwhich material to be sealed 8 is sealed with seal 3, material to besealed 8 including semiconductor element 1 held on die pad 5 and frame 2having die pad 5, and is performed using manufacturing apparatus 300 forthe semiconductor device in accordance with Embodiment 5 describedabove.

First, material to be sealed 8 is arranged inside mold 21 such that diepad 5 is located on the upper side in the vertical direction than framebody portion 6 (step (S10)). That is, material to be sealed 8 arrangedand held in mold 21 is arranged such that semiconductor element 1 andframe 2 are placed upside down when compared with those in semiconductordevice 200. Thereby, since material to be sealed 8 is arranged such thatdie pad 5 is located on the upper side in the vertical direction thanframe body portion 6, second end portion 52 of die pad 5 comes to belocated on a lower side in the vertical direction, that is, on a sidecloser to frame body portion 6, than first end portion 51, under theforce of gravity. It is noted that frame 2 is provided such that thedistance between second end portion 52 of die pad 5 and frame bodyportion 6 in the direction perpendicular to frame body portion 6 on thisoccasion is set to be more than or equal to a lower limit distance whichis 50 μm shorter than the distance between first end portion 51 andframe body portion 6. In other words, frame 2 is provided such that,when material to be sealed 8 is arranged in mold 21, the shortestdistance between end surface 21A of the upper mold of mold 21 and secondend portion 52 of die pad 5 is longer than the shortest distance betweenend surface 21A and first end portion 51.

Next, material to be sealed 8 is sealed with seal 3, by introducing theflowable material which is to serve as seal 3 into mold 21 in whichmaterial to be sealed 8 is arranged and thereafter curing the material(step (S20)). The material which is to serve as seal 3 is, for example,epoxy resin, and is introduced into space S through connection path 22,from a direction indicated by an arrow A. On this occasion, inside spaceS of mold 21, by means of the previous step (S10), second end portion 52of die pad 5 is in a state where it is located on the side closer toframe body portion 6 than first end portion 51. Accordingly, byintroducing the flowable material which is to serve as seal 3 aroundmaterial to be sealed 8 in such a state and curing the flowable materialin this step (S20), shortest distance t2 between second end portion 52of die pad 5 and lower surface 3B of seal 3 in obtained semiconductordevice 200 can be longer than shortest distance t1 between first endportion 51 and lower surface 3B of seal 3, by up to 50 μm. That is, bymeans of this step (S20), the shortest distance between end surface 21Aof the upper mold of mold 21 and second end portion 52 of die pad 5serves as shortest distance t2 between lower surface 3B of seal 3 andsecond end portion 52 of die pad 5, and the shortest distance betweenend surface 21A of the upper mold of mold 21 and first end portion 51serves as shortest distance t1 between lower surface 3B of seal 3 andfirst end portion 51 of die pad 5. Therefore, semiconductor device 200can be obtained in which shortest distance t2 between second end portion52 of die pad 5 and lower surface 3B of seal 3 is longer than shortestdistance t1 between first end portion 51 and lower surface 3B of seal 3,by up to 50 μm.

As a result, even if second end portion 52 of die pad 5 is deformedtoward the lower side in the vertical direction under the weight ofsemiconductor element 1 and its own weight, the shortest distancebetween second end portion 52 of die pad 5 and lower surface 3B of seal3 can be prevented from being shortened in the step of sealing (S20).Therefore, a reduction in the dielectric strength of semiconductordevice 200 can be prevented.

It is noted that semiconductor device 200 in accordance with Embodiment5 may be provided such that second end portion 52 is more apart fromframe body portion 6 than first end portion 51, in the direction apartfrom frame body portion 6, with 100 μm set as an upper limit value, asdescribed above, and such semiconductor device 200 can also be obtainedby the manufacturing method for the semiconductor device in accordancewith Embodiment 5. In this case, for example in the case where materialto be sealed 8 is arranged in mold 21 in step (S10), second end portion52 only has to be provided such that, when the point where first endportion 51 is located is defined as a zero point and the lower side isdefined as a positive side in the vertical direction, second end portion52 is provided within the range of more than or equal to −50 μm and lessthan or equal to 100 μm. Thereby, semiconductor device 200 can beobtained in which, even if shortest distance t2 between second endportion 52 of die pad 5 and lower surface 3B of seal 3 is shorter thanshortest distance t1 between first end portion 51 and lower surface 3Bof seal 3, the difference (t1−t2) therebetween is suppressed to be lessthan or equal to 100 μm.

Although connection path 22 is provided to extend along the direction inwhich frame 2 extends in manufacturing apparatus 300 in accordance withEmbodiment 5, connection path 22 is not limited thereto. Referring toFIG. 11, connection path 22 may be provided in mold 21, for example,above space S in the vertical direction. Also with such a configuration,the flowable material can be supplied into space S of mold 21 in adirection indicated by arrow A, with second end portion 52 of die pad 5being arranged on the lower side in the vertical direction than firstend portion 51, and thus the same effect as that of manufacturingapparatus 300 in accordance with Embodiment 5 can be exhibited.Preferably, connection path 22 is provided in mold 21 (for example, theupper mold) to be located directly above die pad 5. With such aconfiguration, die pad 5 is pressed downward by the flowable materialwhen the flowable material is supplied from the upper side toward thelower side in the vertical direction, and thus second end portion 52 ofdie pad 5 can be more reliably suppressed from coming close to lowersurface 3B of seal 3. As a result, semiconductor device 200 having ahigh dielectric strength and a reduced package insulation failure ratecan be obtained. It is noted that mold 21 in this case may be, forexample, a split mold having split surfaces.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described,it should be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein areillustrative and non-restrictive in every respect. The scope of thepresent invention is defined by the scope of the claims, and is intendedto include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent tothe scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor device, comprising: asemiconductor element; a frame which has a first surface and a secondsurface located opposite to said first surface, holds said semiconductorelement on said first surface, and is electrically connected with saidsemiconductor element; and a seal which has electrical insulationproperties and seals said semiconductor element and said frame, whereina through-hole is formed in said seal, said through-hole extends in adirection intersecting with said first surface such that saidthrough-hole crosses a plane of said first surface, and an end portionof said frame is arranged to face an inner peripheral end surface ofsaid seal exposed inside said through-hole, said end portion of saidframe being bent towards said first surface.
 2. A semiconductor module,comprising: a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element, aframe which has a first surface and a second surface located opposite tosaid first surface, holds said semiconductor element on said firstsurface, and is electrically connected with said semiconductor element,and a seal which has electrical insulation properties and seals saidsemiconductor element and said frame; a heat dissipating member providedin contact with said seal of said semiconductor device; a fixing memberfor fixing said semiconductor device to said heat dissipating member;and a pressing member located opposite to said heat dissipating member,connected with said fixing member, and provided in contact with saidseal of said semiconductor device, wherein a through-hole is formed insaid seal, said through-hole and said pressing member are provided tooverlap with each other, and said fixing member is provided entirelyoutside said seal for said semiconductor element.
 3. A semiconductordevice, comprising: a semiconductor element; a frame which includes adie pad holding said semiconductor element on a surface thereof and aframe body portion connected with said die pad, and is electricallyconnected with said semiconductor element; and a seal which seals saidsemiconductor element and said frame, wherein said die pad has a firstend portion located on a side close to a connection portion connectedwith said frame body portion, and a second end portion located oppositeto said first end portion, a shortest distance between said first endportion and an outer peripheral surface of said seal is more than orequal to 500 μm, and a shortest distance between said second end portionand said outer peripheral surface of said seal is more than or equal toa lower limit distance which is 100 μm shorter than the shortestdistance between said first end portion and said outer peripheralsurface of said seal, and is less than or equal to an upper limitdistance which is 50 μm longer than the shortest distance between saidfirst end portion and said outer peripheral surface of said seal.